Cycling at River Severn | Cycle Route | Worcester|Worcestershire Cycling at River Severn Canoeing Details Cycling is a great way of seeing the network of canals and rivers and getting some exercise at the same time. The canals and rivers attract over 21 million visits from cyclists each year and with thousands of miles of towpaths, which by their nature tend to be fairly level, it’s easy to see why. Where else can you take in such a diverse range of wildlife and the country’s finest heritage structures while you’re out on your bike? Providing green corridors through the cities and linking the towns and villages together, canal towpaths are used by a range of cyclists from boaters running errands on their bike to experienced cyclists on week-long tours and families taking an afternoon ride together. The Canal & River Trust welcomes considerate cyclists to its towpaths and you don't need a permit to use your bike on any of the towpaths. However, we would ask that you take a look at the Greenways Code for Towpaths before you take to the towpaths. Lots of people visit the waterways, for many different reasons, and everyone is entitled to feel happy and safe while they're visiting.

The mighty River Severn is Britain's longest river. It runs from the Welsh mountains, through the beautiful Shropshire and Worcestershire countryside and down to the flatlands of the Severn estuary. The course of the river is mostly rural, but it does flow through the ancient cities of Worcester and Gloucester. At Worcester, it is overlooked by the magnificent red sandstone cathedral. At Gloucester, the historic docks are a link to its freight-carrying heritage. It is famous for its tidal bore, the second highest tide anywhere in the world. At very high tides, the water is forced from the wide estuary into the narrower channel upstream, forming a wave or bore that travels inland as far as Gloucester and beyond. The different sections of the River Severn are very different in character, offering something for everyone. The Canal & River Trust looks after the River Severn from Stourport to Gloucester. This section of the river is ideal for pleasure-boating, and is busy with narrowboats, motor cruisers and inland waterway boats. Above Stourport, it is suitable for canoes and rowing boats.

The section from Gloucester to Sharpness is dangerous for boats, and is bypassed by the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. The section below Sharpness is not recommended for inland craft, unless they are equipped for a short sea voyage and have experienced crews, or else with the help of a licensed River Severn pilot. River Severn Navigation | Canal & River Trust Find events and activities within miles of The Severn truly has something for everyone: historic cities, delightful scenery, cosy pubs, stunning cathedrals and boats of just about every shape and size. It is famous for its tidal bore, the second highest tide anywhere in the world. At very high tides, water is forced from the wide estuary into the narrower channel upstream. This forms a wave (or bore) that travels inland as far as Gloucester and beyond. Thanks to the Severn Way, a continuous towpath along the Severn, you can explore the whole length of the river on foot from source to sea. It’s quite a stroll! Find stoppages, restrictions and other navigational advice for this waterway. Days out Feeding the ducks or just watching the boats is a great way to spend time by the water with your youngsters.

Best of all, a trip to one of our canals or rivers doesn't have to cost you a penny. Download free activity guides to the River Severn The history Since records began the Severn was a ‘free river’, meaning that navigation was free of charge. Below Gloucester the navigation was estuarial, and boating was assisted by the fortnightly spring tides as far as Upton. Boats of 60 tons could reach the Ironbridge Gorge, and of 40 tons to Shrewsbury. In good conditions smaller boats could get up the river as far as Pool Quay, near Welshpool. Traffic peaked in the mid-18th century, with some 100,000 tons of coal a year coming down from the collieries round Madeley and Broseley to the saltworks at Droitwich and the various riverside towns. Other significant traffic was pig iron from the Forest of Dean and the Ironbridge Gorge, salt from Droitwich, timber coming downriver and the goods needed by the towns going upriver. Challenges It was not an easy river to navigate.

Water flows could be too high, especially in the springtime, or too low in times of drought, a problem made worse when banks were made to protect farmland from flooding. Shoals impeded boats in several places, especially in the Gorge. Towing was by teams of men. There was no towpath suitable for horses until 1800 between Bewdley and Ironbridge, and a dozen years later for the full length between Gloucester and Shrewsbury. Traffic on the river increased when canals from the Midlands opened: the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal in 1771 and the Worcester & Birmingham in 1815. It was not until the 1843–5 that any locks were built on the Severn, when the Severn Commission constructed four from Diglis Lock, just below Worcester, to Bevere Lock, below Stourport. Upper Lode Lock, below Tewkesbury, was added in 1858. Although traffic on the river above Stourport had stopped by 1900, steam-powered boats and tugs provided an effective service on the lower part of the river.

Grain imported through Sharpness became an important traffic, other significant traffics being imported ironstone and timber, and coal from the Forest of Dean. In the 20th Century oil and petrol became a major traffic, but this largely ceased in the 1960's. The Severn today The different sections of the River Severn are very different in character, offering something for everyone. We look after the River Severn from Stourport to Gloucester , a section which is ideal for pleasure-boating busy with narrowboats, motor cruisers and inland waterway boats. Above Stourport , canoes and rowing boats take over. The Severn offers a host of destinations for day trippers. First and foremost, our own Gloucester Waterways Museum promises family fun and boats galore. History buffs should also visit Ironbridge Gorge, the cradle of the Industrial Revolution. There’s the magnificent cathedral at Worcester, historic docks at Gloucester, rowing boats and relaxation at Stourport and a pleasing selection of music festivals at Upton-on-Severn. Not forgetting the beautiful countryside which is some of the best that Britain has to offer.

A note for boaters The section from Gloucester to Sharpness is dangerous for boats, and is bypassed by the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal . The section below Sharpness is not recommended for inland craft, unless they are equipped for a short sea voyage and have experienced crews, or else with the help of a licensed River Severn pilot. Identify rivers and lakes of British Isles Identify rivers and lakes of the British Isles This game asks you to identify the rivers and lakes in this map. When you click on the Start button, the names will disappear, and you will have to replace them by selecting the correct name when asked. Facts about these rivers and lakes Facts about these rivers and lakes The Thames flows through Oxford, Reading, Windsor and London. It ends in the Thames estuary. It used to be heavily polluted. In 1858, the 'Great Stink' caused sittings of Parliament (which is next to the river) to be abandoned, which caused the Victorian London sewerage system to be built. The Severn flows through Shrewsbury, Worcester, and Gloucester. It ends in the Severn estuary which leads to the Bristol Channel. It is the longest British river.

The river's estuary has the second largest tidal range in the world, about 15 metres. This leads to the Severn bore. Several times each year, when conditions are right, a wave forms which travels up the Severn as far as Gloucester. This is big enough to surf along! Loch Ness is the largest Scottish loch (or lake) by volume. It is part of the Great Glen. Loch Ness is very deep and is famous for the Loch Ness monster or Nessie. This is claimed to be a large animal which lives in the loch. The Lake District is an area of mountains and lakes in England. It is a National Park. William Wordsworth lived there and wrote poems about the area, which he loved. Lough Neagh is the largest lake in the British Isles. An Irish legend says that the giant Finn McCool scooped out earth to throw at a rival in Scotland. This formed Lough Neagh, and the earth fell into the Irish Sea and made the Isle of Man. The Tweed marks part of the border between Scotland and England. It enters the North Sea at Berwick-on-Tweed. The Tamar marks most of the boundary between Devon and Cornwall.

It enters the English Channel at Plymouth Sound. Isambard Kingdom Brunel built a famous bridge over the Tamar in Plymouth to carry his railway to Cornwall. The Great Ouse and its tributaries drain East Anglia, the flattest part of Britain. At King's Lynn, the Great Ouse enters the Wash and then flows to the North Sea. The Clyde is the river of Glasgow. It was a famous ship-building area. The Tyne flows through Newcastle-on-Tyne - another famous ship-building area. The Trent and its tributaries drain part of the Pennines, the mountainous backbone of England. It flows through Stoke-on-Trent and Nottingham, and enters the Humber at Hull and then flows to the North Sea. The Shannon is the longest river in Ireland. The Wye marks part of the border between England and Wales. The Mersey flows through Manchester and Liverpool. There is a song about the ferry across the Mersey at Liverpool. © Jo Edkins 2007 Rivers Avon (Bristol) From the Kennet & Avon Canal at Hanham Lock the River Avon runs for 13.75 miles to the Bristol Channel and then into open sea.

The wonderful city of Bristol is steeped in maritime and engineering history, much of which is attributable to Isambard Kingdom Brunel . Brunel's incredible suspension bridge at Clifton is a spectacle never forgotten. Bristol Docks have undergone modernisation and the famous 18th Century statue of Neptune, originally erected in the Temple area, is now part of a pedestrianised city centre. Avon (Stratford) Upper Avon or Warwickshire Avon River in southern England; length 154 km / 96 miles. Sometimes known as the Upper Avon or Warwickshire Avon, it rises in the Northamptonshire uplands near Naseby and flows southwest through Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Evesham, before joining the River Severn near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. One of Britain's most secluded cruising rivers, the Avon meanders past ancient towns and through picturesque countryside. It flows through Stratford, Evesham and Pershore to Tewkesbury, where it meets the mighty River Severn . Its surroundings have changed little since the days of its most famous son, William Shakespeare.

The Avon is a popular river with motor cruisers and narrowboats, but the wide valley and peaceful villages give it an untroubled air that makes it one of Britain's most relaxing waterways. Though there is no continuous towpath, there are many walking opportunities. It is often known as Shakespeare's Avon or simply the 'Stratford Avon', because Avon is such a common river name - deriving from Afon, the Welsh for 'river'. Calder River in West Yorkshire, England; length 72 km / 45 miles It rises in the Pennine moors northwest of Todmorden, and joins the River Aire at Castleford. Several large reservoirs supplying water to West Yorkshire towns lie within its catchment area. The Aire and Calder Navigation forms a link in the system of rivers and canals that provides a waterway from the River Mersey to the River Humber. The Calder valley, via Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge, Mirfield, to Wakefield, is one of the main road and rail routes through the Pennines. Calder River in Cumbria, England. It flows into the Irish Sea 16 km / 10 miles southeast of Whitehaven.

Calder River in central Lancashire, England; length 24 km / 15 miles It joins the River Ribble near Whalley. Cam River in southeast England. It rises in Ashwell, Hertfordshire, and flows 65 km / 40 miles northwest and northeast through Cambridgeshire, and then into the River Ouse, 6 km / 4 miles south of Ely. The Cam is joined at Hauxton by the River Granta, which rises in Essex, and is known thereafter as either the Cam or the Granta. It is navigable as far as the city of Cambridge. Dee (Cheshire) The River Dee passes through magnificent borderland scenery as it tumbles from Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake) through Llangollen to Chester and the sea. Along its way, it passes over Horseshoe Falls and under the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, two landmarks around the charming town of Llangollen. The Dee can be navigated by all craft from Farndon, in rural Cheshire, through Chester and out to the sea. The upper reaches are prized by canoeists, though access rights are hotly debated.

Dee (Scotland) The fifth longest river in Scotland, the Dee flows through some of the most stunning scenery in Scotland on its journey from the Cairngorm Mountains to the North Sea at Aberdeen. Fast-flowing and rocky at times, the River Dee has an abundance of character that is magnificent. It is not uncommon to see canoeists paddling down along the river. The �Royal Dee' is overlooked, at parts, by the magnificent Balmoral Estate, which offers angling and also some impressive marked walks. Balmoral Castle has been enjoyed by generations of royals since Queen Victoria. Dove River in Derbyshire, England, a tributary of the Trent; length 65 km / 40 miles. The Dove rises on Axe Edge, 6 km / 4 miles from Buxton, and forms the southwestern border between Derbyshire and Staffordshire as it flows south to join the Trent near Burton. The valley of Dovedale, below Hartington, where the river runs through a rocky, wooded gorge some 3 km / 2 miles long, is popular with walkers.

Fal For more than 2,000 years the River Fal was the life-blood of the Cornish community between Truro and Falmouth. Today, the tourist town of Falmouth is known as the sailing and yachting capital of the county. Luxury vessels line the Fal Estuary � the third largest natural harbour in the world � and pretty yachts congregate during the Falmouth sailing regatta. Back in the 17th Century, Falmouth was famed for its Post Office Packet sailing boats which carried mail and cargo to and from places as far afield as the East Indies. Boats have travelled up the Fal to the port of Truro since the bygone days of 1170, and vessels approaching 85m in length still regularly sail upstream into the city. The traditional industries of ship repair, cargo handling and yacht building continue to bring money into Falmouth, and old-fashined oyster boats can still be seen trailing the river and charming onlookers. However, the town and the area surrounding the river are now largely dependent on tourism.

Cornwall is an ever popular holiday destination � especially during the summer months � and the Fal's maritime traditions, picturesque harbours and interesting towns win the hearts of visitors year after year. Great Ouse River which rises near Brackley in Northamptonshire, central England, and flows eastwards through Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk, before entering the Wash north of King's Lynn; length 250 km / 160 miles. A large sluice across the Great Ouse, near King's Lynn, was built as part of extensive flood-control works in 1959. The chief tributaries of the Great Ouse are the Ivel, Cam , Lark, Little Ouse, Wissey, and Nar, all of which come from the south or east. The Bedfordshire Ouse was diverted in the 17th century from its devious course through Ely via two new channels called the New and Old Bedford rivers, 32 km / 20 miles long, running in a direct line from Earith near St Ives to Denver Sluice near Downham Market.

Hamble For 7.5 miles from Botley to Southampton Water, the River Hamble offers facilities for sea-going vessels in scenic surroundings that are very popular especially in the high season. It's known throughout the yachting world as the Heart of British Yachting. The river's position makes it suited both for weekend trips and as a base for international yachtsmen. There are numerous festivals and regattas throughout the year. The entrance to the River is illuminated with sector lights at Hamble Point and Warsash. Manifold River which flows through the Manifold Valley, a limestone gorge situated at the southern end of the Peak District in Staffordshire, England. For a distance of about 1.5 km / 1 miles the river disappears underground in swallow holes for part of the year. Mersey River in northwest England; length 112 km / 70 miles. Formed by the confluence of the Goyt and Tame rivers at Stockport, it flows west through the south of Manchester, is joined by the Irwell at Flixton and by the Weaver at Runcorn, and enters the Irish Sea at Liverpool Bay. It drains large areas of the Lancashire and Cheshire plains.

The Mersey is linked to the Manchester Ship Canal. Although plans were announced in 1990 to build a 1,800-m / 5,907-ft barrage across the Mersey estuary to generate electricity from tides, these were abandoned in 1992 for financial reasons. The river lies entirely below 45 m / 150 ft. It is artificially modified (as part of the Manchester Ship Canal) as far as Warrington, where it becomes tidal. The Mersey is polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and chemicals. The Mersey became an artery of communications from the 18th century. Boats for passengers and goods used the river, with its major tributary the Irwell, between Liverpool and Manchester from 1720; the Bridgewater Canal acquired this traffic in the late 18th century. The Mersey had passenger services until the development of the railway in the middle of the 19th century. In the estuary (which has an area of over 78 sq km / 30 sq miles), steam ferries provided transport for commuters from the residential areas of Cheshire to Liverpool from 1815.

In 1934 the first road tunnel under the Mersey was opened. Until the 1920s the river formed the boundary between Lancashire and Cheshire. Nidd River in North Yorkshire, England, located within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The river flows southeast from the base of Whernside (27 km / 17 miles northwest of Ripon) into the River Ouse near York. Water is supplied to Bradford from a dam above the village of Pateley Bridge. Upper Nidderdale is a designated area of outstanding natural beauty. Nith River of southern Scotland, rising in East Ayrshire unitary authority, about 13 km / 8 miles south of Cumnock, and flowing southeast for about 112 km / 70 miles through the valley of Nithsdale in Dumfries and Galloway unitary authority, before entering the Solway Firth 13 km / 8 miles south of Dumfries.

Severn Welsh Hafren Longest River in Britain , which rises on the slopes of Plynlimon, in Ceredigion, west Wales, and flows east and then south, finally forming a long estuary leading into the Bristol Channel; length 336 km / 208 miles. The Severn is navigable for 290 km / 180 miles, up to Welshpool (Trallwng) on the Welsh border. The principal towns on its course are Shrewsbury, Worcester, and Gloucester. England and South Wales are linked by two road bridges and a railway tunnel crossing the Severn. A remarkable feature of the river is a tidal wave known as the `Severn Bore� that flows for some miles upstream and can reach a height of 2 m / 6 ft. The Severn rail tunnel was built in 1873-85. The first of the road bridges to be built opened in 1966, and carries the M4 motorway linking London and South Wales. A second road bridge was opened in 1996 and carries the M48 motorway.

From its source, the Severn passes east through Powys and enters Shropshire near the Brythen Hills. Southeast of Shrewsbury, the river passes through Ironbridge Gorge, `cradle of the Industrial Revolution� and now a tourist attraction. Thereafter, it runs through Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, widening considerably after it passes Newnham. The Severn is navigable by larger ships (of around 8,000 tonnes) as far as Sharpness, and by smaller vessels (up to 700 tonnes) to Gloucester, while barges of 350 tonnes capacity can negotiate its upper reaches as far as Stourport. The Severn is connected with the rivers Trent and Mersey via the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal , and with the canal network around Birmingham via the Worcester and Birmingham Canal , which joins the Severn at Worcester. Between Gloucester and Sharpness, the treacherous nature of the riverbed necessitated the construction, in 1827, of the 26 km / 16 mile long, lock-free Sharpness and Gloucester Ship Canal.

Tributaries of the Severn include the Teme, Stour, Wye , Vyrnwy, Tern, and Avon; in total, the river basin covers an area of 11,420 sq km / 4,409 sq miles. Crossings Between 1873 and 1885, a rail tunnel was dug underneath the Severn near Chepstow, running for a distance of 7.2 km / 4.4 miles, from New Passage to Portskewett; this crossing greatly facilitated travel between Bristol and the Welsh capital Cardiff. A road suspension bridge was opened nearby, from Aust to Beachley, in 1966; this crossing carries the main M4 motorway linking London and South Wales and is subject to payment of a toll by users. Because of the increase in traffic volume, construction of a new road bridge was started in 1992 and completed five years later. Hydroelectric power In 1933, a committee recommended the construction of a hydroelectric power station on a river barrage at English Stones reef, which would utilize the tidal flow of the Severn.

This plan, which was interrupted by World War II, was revived in 1945, when engineers confirmed the practicability of the scheme and projected an output of some 2,190,000,000 kWh. However, no tidal power plant has yet been built. Spey Second longest river in Scotland. It flows through Highland and Moray, rising 14 km / 8 miles southeast of Fort Augustus, for 172 km / 107 miles to the Moray Firth between Lossiemouth and Buckie. It has salmon fisheries at its mouth. The upper river augments the Lochaber hydroelectric scheme. Whisky is distilled in the Spey valley. Taf River in Carmarthenshire, southwest Wales, rising on the eastern side of the Preseli Hills and flowing through Carmarthenshire to Carmarthen Bay; length 50 km / 31 miles Commercial fisheries operate in Carmarthen Bay. The village of Laugharne lies at the mouth of the river.

Tay Longest river in Scotland ; length 193 km / 120 miles, it flows northeast through Loch Tay, then east and southeast past Perth to the Firth of Tay, crossed at Dundee by the Tay Bridge, before joining the North Sea. The Tay has salmon fisheries; its main tributaries are the Tummel, Isla, and Earn, Braan, and Almond. The drainage basin of the Tay and its tributaries forms one the most fully integrated hydroelectric developments in the north of Scotland. The first Tay Bridge, opened in 1878, on the then longest span over water in the world, was blown into the river in 1879, along with a train which was passing over it. The bridge was rebuilt in 1883-88, and a road bridge, from Newport-on-Tay to Dundee, was completed in 1966. Tees River flowing from the Pennines in Cumbria, northwest England, to the North Sea via Tees Bay, Middlesborough unitary authority, in northeast England; length 130 km / 80 miles.

Its port, Teesport, handles in excess of 42 million tonnes per annum, with port trade mainly chemical-related. Although much of the river nearing the sea is polluted with industrial waste, sewage, and chemicals, the Tees Barrage (opened in 1985, cost of construction �50 million) enables a 16 km / 10 mile stretch of the river to provide clean, non-tidal water. This is used for white - water sports, including canoeing. The Tees rises in the north Pennines at Tees Head, on the easterly reaches of Cross Fell, Cumbria, and flows southeast and then northeast through Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough, entering the Tees Mouth estuary to join the North Sea. It is navigable to Middlesbrough. Its main tributaries are the Lune, Balder, and Greta. The river valley, known as Teesdale, includes Mickle Fell (790 m / 2,326 ft), the highest point in County Durham, and the waterfall of High Force.

The Tees has a unique transporter bridge (a bridge consisting of a movable platform suspended from cables), opened in 1911, which has 49 m / 160 ft clearance above the water. Its central section transports cars and people across the Tees towards Hartepool. It is the sole working example in England. Teme The river Teme is the second largest tributary of the River Severn . It rises in the Kerry hills in Mid Wales from a small spring in Bryn Coch quarry on Cilfaesty Hills at 460 metres above sea level. The Teme is a rural river flowing through unspoilt countryside which is regarded as some of the most attractive in Britain. The main town on the Teme is the historic border town of Ludlow in Shropshire. The Teme Valley, running down from Ludlow, comprises of the orchards, woods and countryside of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, to the foothills of the Malverns, the valley of the River Teme is an area of great beauty, interesting architecture, quiet places and rural pursuits.

The rural nature of the river is reflected by high quality water with excellent brown trout and grayling fishing, with a challenge for the purist angler willing to accept the rugged conditions. Thames River in south England, flowing through London; length 338 km / 210 miles. The longest river in England , it rises in the Cotswold Hills above Cirencester and is tidal as far as Teddington. Below London there is protection from flooding by means of the Thames Barrier (1982). The headstreams unite at Lechlade. Tributaries from the north are the Windrush, Evenlode, Cherwell, Thame, Colne, Lea, and Roding; and from the south, the Kennet, Loddon, Wey, Mole, Darent, and Medway. Around Oxford the river is sometimes poetically called the Isis. The construction of a 11 km / 7 mile flood alleviation channel between Maidenhead and Eton was approved in 1994.

At Gravesend, the head of the estuary, it has a width of 1 km / 0.6 miles, gradually increasing to 16 km / 10 miles at the Nore. Lying some 5 km / 3 miles southwest of the Nore is the mouth of the Medway estuary, at the head of which lie Chatham with important naval dockyards, Gillingham, and Rochester. Gravesend on the south bank of the river, some 40 km / 25 miles from the Nore, developed at a point where vessels used to await the turn of the tide. Tidal waters reach Teddington, 100 km / 62 miles from its mouth, where the first lock from the sea (except for the tidal lock at Richmond) is located. There are in all 47 locks, St John's Lock, Lechlade, being nearest the source. The normal rise and fall of the tide is from 4.5 m / 15 ft to 7 m / 23 ft at London Bridge and from 4 m / 13 ft to 6 m / 20 ft at Tilbury.

Until Tower Bridge was built, London Bridge was the lowest in the course; the reach between these two bridges is known as the `Pool of London�. Tilbury, Fort and Docks, important as the main London container terminal, lies opposite Gravesend on the northern bank. At Woolwich, some 30 km / 19 miles above Tilbury, is the arsenal; Greenwich, a little farther upriver, has the Royal Naval College. Between Tilbury and London Bridge (some 40 km / 25 miles upstream) stretches the London dock System. The Thames has been frozen over at various times, the earliest recorded occasion being AD 1150. The embankments of the Thames in London were the work of Sir Joseph Bazalgette (1819-91), chief engineer of the Metropolitan Board of Works. The Albert Embankment on the south side was completed in 1869, the Victoria Embankment from Westminster to Blackfriars in 1870, and the Chelsea Embankment from the Royal Hospital to Battersea Bridge in 1874.

In January 1949 work was started on a new embankment, designed by J Rawlinson, chief engineer of the former London County Council, on the south side from County Hall to Waterloo Bridge. These embankments were raised after 1974. There are walkways (formerly towpaths) from Teddington to Cricklade. The Port of London Authority is responsible for the control and conservation of the river below Teddington. Above Teddington the Environment Agency is the responsible authority; there is some barge traffic on this stretch of the river. The Thames is of great importance to the water supply of London, partly because the many springs in the chalk usually maintain a steady flow in summer. Salmon returned to the Thames in 1974. The river is spanned by 20 road and nine rail bridges between Hampton Court and the Tower of London. These include Tower Bridge (which has a drawbridge mechanism to enable large vessels to pass) and a suspension bridge at Hammersmith. The QEII Bridge opened in 1991 joins the counties of Essex and Kent.

The chief tunnels under the Thames are the Thames Tunnel, completed by Brunel in 1841, now used by the East London Line of the London Underground; the Blackwall Tunnel (1897) from East India Dock Road to East Greenwich, the Rotherhithe Tunnel (1918) from Shadwell to Rotherhithe, and the Dartford tunnel completed in 1963. There are regular boats from Kingston to Folly Bridge, Oxford, during the summer. There is some beautiful scenery along this part of the river, for example at Cliveden, Cookham, Sonning, and Pangbourne. There are fine bridges at Richmond, Hampton Court, Chertsey, Maidenhead, and Shillingford. Henley , Wallingford, Dorchester, Abingdon, Eton and Windsor are attractive. The Royal Regatta at Henly on Thames is one of the highlights of the British social calander.

Along the 80 km / 50 miles from its source beneath a tree in `Trewsbury Mead� to Oxford, the Thames glides through meadows, its course interrupted only by the small towns of Lechlade and Cricklade and the pretty stone-built hamlets of Kelmscott and Ashton Keynes. In these upper reaches there are two medieval bridges New Bridge and Radcot Bridge. Motor launches can reach Lechlade; beyond that point it is possible to canoe up to Cricklade, but the final 16 km / 10 miles to the source of the Thames is best done on foot. One particularly attractive section is the steep-sided valley through the chalk hills between Goring and Reading, known as the Goring Gap. Trent Third longest river of England; length 275 km / 170 miles. Rising in the south Pennines (at Norton in the Moors) by the Staffordshire-Cheshire border, it flows south and then northeast through Derbyshire, along the county boundary of Leicestershire, and through Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, joining the Ouse east of Goole to form the Humber estuary, and entering the North Sea below Spurn Head.

Its drainage basin covers more than 10,000 sq km / 4,000 sq miles. Main tributaries are the Churnet, Dove , and Derwent. It is navigable by barge for nearly 160 km / 100 miles. The principal towns and cities along its course are Burton upon Trent, Stoke-on-Trent, Nottingham, and Newark. It is connected with other rivers and with the Birmingham and Lancashire districts by the Trent and Mersey Canal and the Grand Union Canal . The Trent valley includes extensive gravel workings and many electric power stations. Tweed River rising in the Tweedsmuir Hills, 10 km / 6 miles north of Moffat, southwest Scottish Borders, Scotland, and entering the North Sea at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland; length 156 km / 97 miles. It flows in a northeasterly direction, and from Coldstream until near Berwick-upon-Tweed it forms the border between England and Scotland. It is the fourth longest river in Scotland and is one of the best salmon rivers.

Tyne River of northeast England formed by the union of the North Tyne (rising in the Cheviot Hills) and South Tyne (rising near Cross Fell in Cumbria) near Hexham, Northumberland, and reaching the North Sea at Tynemouth ; length 72 km / 45 miles. Kielder Water (1980) in the North Tyne Valley is Europe's largest artificial lake, 12 km / 7.5 miles long and 0.8 km / 0.5 miles wide, and supplies the industries of Tyneside, Wearside, and Teesside. As well as functioning as a reservoir, it is a major resource for recreational use. The principal tributary of the Tyne is the River Derwent , and the chief towns and cities along its course are Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Jarrow, and South Shields. Much of the Tyne basin lies within the Northumberland National Park. Along the lower reaches the Tyneside conurbation developed in the 19th century around shipyards, iron works, and chemical industries.

Tywi or Towy River in Carmarthenshire, southwest Wales; length 108 km / 68 miles It rises in the Cambrian Mountains of central Wales and flows southwest through Carmarthen before entering Carmarthen Bay. Ure River in North Yorkshire, northern England; length about 80 km / 50 miles. It rises 10 km / 6 miles northwest of Hawes, near the borders of Cumbria, and joins the River Swale near Boroughbridge to form the Ouse . Flowing through the spectacular Wensleydale countryside, the river drops dramatically at Aysgarth. Aysgarth Force is located alongside the A684 where a beautiful old single arched bridge spans the river close by. Wear River in northeast England; length 107 km / 67 miles. From its source near Wearhead in the Pennines in County Durham, it flows eastwards along a narrow valley, Weardale, to Bishop Auckland and then northeast past Durham and Chester-le-Street, to meet the North Sea at Sunderland. Weardale is moorland in its upper reaches at Stanhope and Wolsingham.

At Sunderland the Wear cuts a gorge 30 m / 98 ft deep through the local magnesian limestone plateau to reach the North Sea. The city of Durham is built along the Wear, and its castle and cathedral (a World Heritage site) stand 30 m / 100 ft above the river on an incised meander. Wye (Welsh Gwy) River in Wales and England; length 208 km / 130 miles. It rises on Plynlimon in northeast Ceredigion, flows southeast and east through Powys and Hereford and Worcester, and follows the Gwent-Gloucestershire border before joining the river Severn 4 km / 2.5 miles south of Chepstow. It has salmon fisheries and is noted for its scenery particularly at Symonds Yat. Wye River of central England; length 15 km / 9 miles. It rises in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire and flows in a southeasterly direction to Bourne End where it meets the Thames . Wye River in Derbyshire, central England; length 32 km / 20 miles.

It rises near Buxton and flows in a southeasterly direction to meet the Derwent at Rowsley. Severn Vale Tourist Information and Travel Guide England UK Severn Vale Tour and Tourist Information Guide The Severn Vale, through which flows the country's longest river, is famous for its tidal bore, Blaisdon Plums and Perry Pears. The old Severnside port of Lydney is the area’s main town, and is a thriving business and shopping area. The River Severn ( Welsh:Afon Hafren ) is the longest British river, at 354 kilometres (219 miles) long; it rises at an altitude of 610 metres on Plynlimon near Llanidloes, in the Cambrian Mountains, Mid Wales, and it passes through a number of English counties, with the county towns of Shrewsbury, Worcester, and Gloucester located on its banks. The Severn becomes the Bristol Channel at its estuary, eventually discharging into the Irish Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. With an average discharge of 107 m³/s at Hawbridge (Worcestershire), the Severn is England´s largest river in terms of water flow.

The Severn's drainage basin area is 11,420 km2. It is one of the ten major rivers in the United Kingdom. The Severn Tunnel carries the Great Western Main Line under the estuary. The two bridges of the Severn crossing carrying roads (opened in 1966 and 1996) link Wales with the southern counties of England and are among the most important in Britain. The Severn is bridged at many places, and many of these bridges are notable in their own right, with several designed and built by the engineer Thomas Telford. A six-mile stretch of the Severn Valley in Shropshire, known as the Ironbridge Gorge, was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. Its historic importance is due to its role as the centre of the iron industry in the early stages of Britain's Industrial Revolution. Ironbridge gets its name from the bridge across the Severn, built in 1779, which was the first cast-iron bridge ever constructed.

According to some sources, the name "Severn" is derived from the name Sabrina (or "Sabern"), based on the mythical story of the drowning of a nymph in the river.A tributary of the Severn, called the River Teme, joins it just below Worcester and above Kempsey. One of the several rivers named Avon joins the Severn at Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. That same Avon also flows through Stratford-upon-Avon. The port of Bristol is located at the mouth of the Severn, where another River Avon flows into it. Between Gloucester and the Welsh border at Chepstow is the Forest of Dean flanking the north bank.The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, the Droitwich Canals and the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal are joined to the Severn. A curious phenomenon associated with the lower reaches of the Severn is the tidal phenomenon known as the bore.

The river's estuary, part of the Bristol Channel, has the second largest tidal range in the world - about 15 metres, exceeded only by the Bay of Fundy in Canada - and at certain combinations of the tides, the rising water is funneled up the estuary into a wave that travels rapidly upstream against the river current; enthusiasts even attempt to surf along on the wave. (Note that the Gloucester Harbour Trustees, as competent harbour authority for this part of the river, explicitly advise against this pastime.) The Severn Bore is a natural example of a self-reinforcing solitary wave or soliton. The bore forms somewhat upstream of the Port of Sharpness, which is also the Southern terminus of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. The canal was built in the 1820s to enable safer passage of trading ships to Gloucester. What to See and Do FOR INFORMATION ON Farson Digital Watercams - Hi-def webcam on River Severn, at Diglis Lock Website | Email | 01452 410411 More information Many thanks to The Canal and River Trust for facilitating this camera's location and capitally funding its installation.

The Diglis Locks are the only pair of locks on the River Severn. The small lock is 20ft (6m) wide and 98ft (30m) long and big enough to fit 12 double decker buses.The Diglis Locks are two of the deepest of the 1,650 that British Waterways looks after.To access the Worcester and Birmingham Canal from the Severn, one must first ascend one of the two pairs of locks leading up from the river. The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about 220 miles,but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of 610 metres on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales. It then flows through Shropshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, with the county towns of Shrewsbury, Gloucester and the cathedral city of Worcester is a on its banks. With an average discharge of 107 m³/s at Apperley, Gloucestershire, the Severn is the greatest river in terms of water flow in England and Wales.

River Severn & River Avon Canal Holiday Cruising Guide & Map Pubs & Eating Broad rivers: Severn 42 miles, 6 locks, 2 days; Avon 44 miles, 17 locks, 2days. The 'Avon Ring' is a circular waterway route made up of the River Severn from Worcester to Tewkesbury, the River Avon, the Stratford Canal and the Worcester & Birmingham Canal . It can be cruised in 1 week, but 2 weeks will be more relaxed! Longer circular Routes via the BCN & Staffs & Worcs are possible. The River Severn & the River Avon The River Severn is Britain's longest river, rising in mid Wales and flowing for 220 miles to the Bristol Channel. However the navigable section starts at Bewdley a few miles above Stourport and runs about 45 miles to Gloucester. Below Gloucester the river runs large tides. The Warwickshire River Avon is also navigable for 45 miles, from Tewkesbury to above Stratford on Avon. Each can be cruised in about three days.

The journey down the wide Severn from the interesting old canal port of Stourport on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal is through pleasant gently rolling countryside although the high banks, necessary to restrain the floodwaters which can surge out of Wales, mean the view is frequently restricted to tree lined banks. There are some interesting pubs selling evil-looking but delicious "scrumpy" cider. You can moor at the foot of Worcester Cathedral steps. Gloucester Docks has some magnificent old seven storey grain warehouses. The Docks were the centre for the import of corn in the nineteenth century but are no longer used by much commercial traffic. They now house interesting antique warehouses, shops, offices and museums including the Gloucester Waterways Museum and the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum. The city is a short walk away. It is normally possible to find moorings in the dock basins. The Gloucester and Sharpness Ship Canal was built to bypass a notoriously dangerous stretch of the Severn. The cruise down to Sharpness Docks through the frequent manned swing bridges with their classical keepers cottages is well worthwhile.

It is possible to enter the tidal Severn estuary at Sharpness and navigate down to Bristol docks, where the Kennet and Avon Navigation can be joined. This is a serious undertaking because of the nature of the river and the large and fast tides. Most boaters employ the services of a river pilot and travel in convoy in case of engine breakdowns. The River Avon meanders much more than the Severn, through beautiful watermeadows above Tewkesbury, famous for it's abbey and fine buildings, and winds on amidst willow trees through the Vale of Evesham to Stratford upon Avon. Pershore and Evesham should be visited and you can moor opposite the Royal Shakespeare Theatre at Stratford on Avon. The River Avon was divided at Evesham, the Upper Avon becoming disused in the last century and the Lower Avon rarely used and only open to Pershore. The Lower Avon was restored by a Trust in the 1960's but restoration of the Upper Avon was considerably more difficult and there was opposition from many landowners along the River. It was eventually reopened in 1974.

Many locks and weirs had to be rebuilt and there is a wide variety of lock shapes, sizes and gear. The large locks on the Severn are electrically operated by lock-keepers, those on the Avon you have to operate yourself and some can be a little awkward at first but the scenery is beautiful! The lift and swing bridges on the Gloucester & Sharpness are all usually manned. River Severn at Worcester. Hireboats on the River Avon Valley Cruises base on the Stratford upon Avon canal is ideally placed in Shakespeare's 'Heart of England'' to cruise the beautiful River Avon, the Avon Ring and other Midlands waterways. Hireboats on the River Severn Saltway Narrowboats' Droitwich base is ideally located to offer cruises along the Severn and around the Avon Ring, as well as cruises around the Droitwich Ring for shorter breaks. Hireboats on the River Severn Starline Narrowboats are ideally located for cruising the Severn and Avon. Stratford Upon Avon can be achieved within a one week holiday from our hire base at Stourport on Severn. Big locks on the River Severn. Tree lined River Avon.

Worcester & Birmingham Canal | Canal & River Trust Our canal & river network Worcester & Birmingham Canal The Worcester & Birmingham Canal takes you from the vibrant centre of Birmingham, through the green hills of Worcestershire, to the cathedral city of Worcester. Worcester & Birmingham Canal at night Find events and activities within miles of At its northern end, the canal joins the Birmingham Canal Main Line at Gas Street Basin. This pretty basin was once a thriving transport hub. Now, traditional narrowboats and elegant black and white iron footbridges sit side-by-side with modern bars and restaurants. Close by is luxury shopping centre the Mailbox, with its stylish clothing shops and cafes. Among the cargos that once travelled on the canal was chocolate crumb to the Cadbury factory. Today, this is Cadbury World, a great day out if you have a sweet tooth. Chocolate and guillotines At Kings Norton Junction, the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal joins under permanently open guillotine gates. Opposite the junction is an attractive toll house with its board showing the charges. The Lickey Hills are pierced by three long tunnels. The canal was realigned to allow the building of the M42.

Tardebigge Wharf, with its dry dock, maintenance yard, workers' cottages, and historic warehouse remains the main base for maintenance on the canal, and is a great place to start a walk. It was here that Tom Rolt met Robert Aickman, which led to the creation of the Inland Waterways Association. Historic meeting All 58 locks are in the second half of the canal, as the canal descends through rural Worcestershire. The Tardebigge lock flight has 30 locks in just over two miles, making it the longest in the country. Hanbury Hall (National Trust) can easily be reached by a pleasant walk across the fields from Astwood Bottom Lock. Hanbury Junction marks the connection with the Droitwich Junction Canal, linked with the Droitwich Barge Canal and offers a route to the River Severn at Hawford. You might like to take a short walk down the Hanbury Flight, which was rebuilt by volunteers. Hanbury's other claim to fame is that it is said to be the real-life counterpart of Radio 4's Ambridge, home of The Archers.

Around Bilford, the countryside is left behind as the canal begins to encroach on the city environs. The Commandery was the headquarters of Charles Stuart before the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Ahead lies Diglis Basins and two wide locks accessing the Severn. Once very busy with commercial traffic, the working boats have long been replaced by pleasure craft. Worcester Cathedral stares down imposingly on travellers entering the river. Boating The Worcester & Birmingham Canal is a justifiably popular cruising route and is now part of both the Avon and Stourport Cruising Rings. With 58 locks in all it is well suited to energetic crews, or those who don't mind taking their time. Download Worcester & Birmingham Canal towpath guidance for cyclists The history The purpose of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal was to give a much shorter link between Birmingham and the river Severn. Against opposition from other canals, it obtained its Act in 1791. Construction started at the Birmingham end but progress was slow.

The canal was intended to be broad (for boats up to 14ft wide), which is why the first three tunnels have this width, but shortage of money meant that the section from Tardebigge to Worcester was built only wide enough for narrow boats. It opened throughout in 1815. Water supply was a major problem and a source of conflict with connecting canals. At first the Birmingham Canal and the W&B were physically separated by what was known as Worcester Bar, but in 1815 they agreed a compromise whereby the two canals would be linked by a lock, with the W&B paying a compensation toll for all traffic passing through. The guillotine lock by Kings Norton Junction on the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal enabled each canal to preserve its water, regardless of the respective levels. Experimental vertical boat lift Tardebigge top lock is particularly deep because it was the site of a experimental vertical boat lift, which proved not to be robust enough. After a few months it was replaced by a conventional lock — but as a canal’s water usage is largely determined by its deepest lock, it would have been better if it had been replaced by two locks.

The volume of traffic never lived up to expectations, though it improved once the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal opened in 1827. Salt had been found when the canal was being cut at Stoke Prior, and the industry which developed became an important source of traffic. Worcester gas works and other canalside industries used coal brought by the canal. Railway competition However, from 1841 railway competition took away much of the business and in 1868 losses were so severe that a receiver was appointed. The canal was saved by being bought in 1874 by the Sharpness New Docks Company (which by then owned the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal). Under enterprising management new traffic was sought, and the canal survived until nationalisation in 1948. The last commercial traffics were coal from Cannock to Worcester and chocolate crumb from Worcester to Bourneville, ceasing in 1960 and 1961 respectively.

Question: Which river flows through Worcester and Gloucester?
Answer: RIVER SEVERN